Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George James Brook, better known as Jim, was born on the 24th of March 1893. He originally was born at Weavers Lagoon, a small town located in the southern part of Yorke Peninsula. It’s unknown how long George lived there but at some point, he moved to what is now known as his hometown, Willaston, Light north of Adelaide in South Australia. According to his attestation paper on enlisting, George Brook had dark hair and blue eyes with a florid complexion. He was son to James Brook and Elizabeth Ann (Hall) Brook and brother to 4 siblings, Obed Mark Brook, Hilda (Brook) Hutchinson, Mary Lillian Brook (Half) and Alexandra King Brook (Half). His sister, Alexandra, King Brook, was well known for being awarded first prize with her representation of D. Y. Cameron's "The Bride."  George’s religion was Christian, he was a part of the The Salvation Army.

Before he enlisted into the war, he was a motor mechanic repairing various types of machinery. At the age of, 23, George enlisted in the AIF on October 19th, 1916 at Williston, Gawler, South Australia answering the call for more young men like himself to join the war and help fight for his country and Allies. He served as a Private during the war for his unit, the 50th Battalion. His service number during this time was 3126, and he embarked onto his ship, the HMAT Berrima A35on on the 16th of December 1916.

He then disembarked from Australia 16-2-17. On 16/9/17 George Brook was taken on strength to 50th Battalion. Jim then marched into Codford, England. During world war one Codford was used to train and transfer tens of thousands of Australian troops. Jim and all the Australian soldiers would wait there ready to move into France. After Jim and his unit left for France, Codford was turned into a depot where soldiers would got after being taken from the front line and weren’t well enough to go back. After arriving on the 11th of June 1916 , France, the 50th Battalion fought their first proper battle. It went from the 13th-15 of August at Mouquet Farm.

According to Australian War Memorial accounts of the 50th Battalion, During October 1916- February 1917, they alternated between front-line duty, and training and labouring behind the line in France. It’s likely he contributed to this.

On the 26th of September, George and his unit went to France to be involved in the battle of Polygon Wood. During George’s time in France, he sadly got injured in the field on the 25th of September 1917. His injury occurred just before the Battle of Polygon Wood, on the 26th-27th of September. 

The battle was fought near Ypres in Belgium, Polygon wood lasted for eight years from the 26th of September to 3rd of October 1917. The battle was a success for the Australians but many were lost and a lot of casualties. more than 5700 Australian casualties, including many Queenslanders and George.

Then during November 1917-February 1918 the 50th Battalion spent the winter involved in trench warfare. 

On the 5th of April 1918 the 50th Battalion helped battle the largest German attack against the Australian Soldiers, in Dernancourt. This was one of the biggest attacks they were faced with. The Germans tried all through April until at last the victory was theirs. The Australian-British won the giant battle in Dernancourt.

On the 4th of June 1918 George was discharged due to being wounded in action and not fit for service. He left to go back for Australia via Balmoral Castle ship. His total service was 1 year and 235 days and 1 year, 98 days of service abroad. 

After the war George went back to his life in South Australia. Louisa Jane in 1918. In 1939 George stepped up once again to protect his country and enlisted to fight in WW2, at the age of 46. After surviving the second world war, George went back to South Australia where he lived peacefully with his wife. After living a long life he passed away on the 19th of February 1987, aged 93 years, cause unknown.

Bibliography

scheme =AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, P. (n.d.). RecordSearch - National Archives of Australia. [online] recordsearch.naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=6342314&S=7&N=9&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=6342314&T=P&S=5 [Accessed 17 May 2023]

“George James Brook.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1873792. Accessed 17 May 2023.

“Advanced Search | Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search?collection=true&facet_type=Film. Accessed 17 May 2023.

“HMAT SS Balmoral Castle in the Great War - the Wartime Memories Project -.” Www.wartimememoriesproject.com, www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/ships/view.php?pid=2796. Accessed 17 May 2023.

“| the Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51490.

“Brook George James : SERN 3126 : POB Yorktown SA : POE Adelaide SA : NOK F Brook James.” National Archives of Australia, 1914, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3128475. Accessed 17 May 2023.
“George James BROOK.” Vwma.org.au, vwma.org.au/explore/people/269274. Accessed 17 May 2023.
“Anzac Spirit | the Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/spirit#:~:text=Anzac%20came%20to%20stand%20for.